Shaping machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. F. ZIMMERMANN SHAPING MACHINE Filed March 28, '1.941

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ATTORNEY April 7, 1942. w. F. ZIMMERMANN SHAPING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 m- J .8 w? A mni hh w mm Q a in "u a n QQE INVENTOR TTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1942 e 1 UNITED STATE SHAPING MACHINE William F. Zimmermann, Maplewocd, N. J., as

Signor to Gould & Eberhardt, Newark, N.- J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 28,1941, Serial No.'385,645 v v 9 Claims. .(01. 90-39) This invention relates to machine tool ram structures and is directed more particularly'to improvements in the construction'and operation.

of rams of shaping machines.

The invention has for its primary objective to increase the accuracy and. render the performance of shaping machines and operations performed thereby, more elficient and certain. A further aim of the invention is to eliminate from the ram structure the natural tendency of the tool carrying end thereof to droop when projected far beyond its supporting guides, and to render available a ram structure possessing an inherent ability to resist deflection resulting from the application of localized or concentrated forces incident to the normal operation 'and use of the machine. 1

Still another object is to attain added stiffness and rigidity in ram construction in an improved manner whereby the gross weight of the structure is not increased to an extent such that it would materially interfere with or necessitate a lowering of the maximum rate of reciprocations allowable for a ram of a given size.

One of the major' difiiculties in coping with the problem'of obtaining rigidity and stiffness in a shaper ram is brought about by the peculiar operating characteristics of shapers and by the necessity of providing a relatively long opening in the underside of the ram through which the ram reciprocating mechanism may extend. -A similar opening or split construction must also be provided in the top wall of the ram to accommodate the means for clamping the ram reciprocating linkage system to the ram in a 1 selected position. Necessarily such longitudinal openings have a weakening effect upon the rigidity of the whole structure and tend to permit a certain amount of springiness to occur in the walls thereof. v

In shaper ram structures the opening in the bottom extends practically the full length and the only cross bracing that may be used must be located in the very'ends of the ram. Under ordinary conditions of operation, the two regions of cross bracing, and particularly that at the forward end, assume positions outside of or be yond the main supporting guides of the machine. Apposed' V'f guides (dove-tailed) are provided along the lower edges and great care must be exercised in fitting the ram to thecomplementary V guides in the main frame in a manner insuring freedom of movement of the ram throughout its available stroke without cramping or creating undue looseness at any portion or portions thereof. However, when'a good fit has been obtained, some deflection occurs when the ram has moved to a position wliereat the the deflection is exhibited in aslight drooping of the head end, due to the factthat the central portionsof the'ram, whichare'not and cannot be crossbraced; tend" to yield slightly within their V guides.- In such prior structures, the drooping of the ram causes the tool point to dip out of the theoretically true and straight line of motion desired and errors in the finished work results; This condition would not otherwise occur if the walls of the ram were integrally connected and adequately cross braced throughout its length.

Another difiiculty encountered in ,machines ofthis character is due to the squeezing and/or bulging of the side walls ofthe. ram in a lateral direction as a result of non-uniform or nonskilful adjustment or fitting of the mitered straps associated with the ram guides, or from the application of too great a" pressure on the'mecha nism that clamps the reciprocatingv lever mechanism of the machine to the ram. In the conventional shaper, the clamping'devices employed consist essentially of a pivot block and a clamping screw." Thepivot block normally is held in its adjusted position against an abutment/medially located in the ram shell, and the clamp 'scr'ew cooperating therewith extends through the slot in the top and has. mounted thereon a wrench form of nut. In operating the clamp nutv in a tightening 'direction', the pivot block is pulled against the central abutment with the same degree of force that the top of the shell is squeezed toward the. pivot block. Thus, intense local stresses are thereby set up in the ram structure which tend to promote wall deflection in that region. In the case of a large size machine having a ram approximately 5 /2 ft. in length, the region of local stress, arising 'atthe point of linkconnection or resulting from the linkage clamping mechanism itself; may shift as much as 22 inches along the ram depending upon the point of star'ting'or stopping and length of ram'stroke desired;

Involved with the foregoing, there are also factors of mass and ram speeds to be considered. When it is recognized that the number of strokes per' minute of a shaper ram may be as many as 200- for a 16" tool room'shaper, or as many as for a large 36 inch industrial shaper, the weight and massof ashaper ram intended to be reciprocatedat those rates, places definite re- "striction's upon the quantity' of metal that may head end overhangs the main supporta substantial distance. In the prior ram structures be utilized in its construction.

The present inventionoffe'rs a. solution to the "problem of ram defiection (droop, bulge or rams of sufiicient to accommodate therebetweenthe lever driving linkages and clamping mechanism therefor in all positions. And, as the inner pair of walls extend in substantially vertical planes and in this proposed construction provide the mount for the ram driving linkage, the vertical component of the driving forces acts vertically on and is carried by the inner pair of walls and not wholly by the curved outer wall, as, was heretofore the case in. the conventional ram struc ture.

Additional bracing is effected in the present double walledconstruction by; the; provision of one or more horizontally disposed, lengthwise extending, webs. between each inner wall and its associated outer wall. Preferably, at least one set of horizontal webs is located opposite the sup porting surfaces for the pivot block of the lever linkage mechanism, for the added strength afforded by relatively wide webs at such regions increases the strength of the inner load carrying walls as well as the rigidity of the ram structure as a whole.

A ram. so constituted is, it will be seen, made up of a plurality of longitudinally extending walls and webs so arranged as to form cells on each side of the necessary central opening. lEreferabl'y the longitudinal tubes or cellsv are in turn broken. up into. shorter cells by one. or more. transversely arranged webs that integrally unite not only the respective inner walls of the ram with their respective outer walls but the upper and lower walls of the ram, as 'well. And notwithstanding that the total surface area of allof the individual walls, of a ram constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, may be greater than the total area of the surfaces in the prior single walled rams, the increased strength and rigidity resulting from the present double walled box-like construction enables one to construct the walls appreciably thinner, thus utilizing approximately the. same quantity of metal as before, but gaining a substantial degree of strength and rigidity over and beyond that obtained in the prior designs. e

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom connection with the annexed drawings.

To enableothers skilled in the art so: fully to apprehend the underlying features. hereof that they may embody the, same in the various ways contemplated by this. invention, drawingsqdepicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters; of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of-

which:

Figure l is a side view of a shaping machine illustrating the ram thereof in different normal.

In the attainment of the objectives of this,

of a ram structure, taken along lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 2.

A shaping machine, such as represented by Fig. 1 of the drawings, is taken as representative of the many machines in which there is an existing need for a sturdy, rigid support of the character heretofore referred to. In such machines there is a main frame member I8 having V-shaped guideways H formed along the top thereof in which the tool supporting ram I2 is reciprocably mounted.

The ram is hollow and in cross-section the shape of an inverted U and at its forward end, carries. a tool head l2 to which a cutting tool I3 is secured. As the ram is propelled forward the tool takes a shaving off the workpiece W, and on the return stroke the work table is shifted laterally a unit distance so that on the next forward stroke of the tool, a new portion of the work is encountered thereby.

If the workpiece to be, operated upon is rela tively long, the ram must be adjusted to. travel the full length of the. cut, and in consequence is caused to project and overhang its supporting guides in the main frame an appreciable distance. This overhang may in some cases be about half the length of the ram, i. e., a machine capable cf taking a 36 inch cut, is provided with a ram only'lZ incheslong. And while there is always adequate length of bearing in the frame for the ram in all of its positions, it is difficult to prevent drooping of the forward end when it is projected far beyond its support.

The mechanism used to, reciprocate the ram is contained within the main frame in of the machine and. comprises, in its essentials, a large bull gear [4, provided with guides l5 as (indicated in dotted lines) to receivea radially adjustable crank pin and block. H5; A largeslotted lever I1, pivoted at its lower end to the main frame, and at: its upper end to a link l8 adjustably-connected with the ram, coacts with the crank pin and transmits and converts the rotary motion of the gear M to reciprocatory motion in the ram. The. gear 14 receives its power through an eight speed change gear mechanism l9 from a motor 20.

In such an arrangement, the changing of the radial position of the crank pin IE on the wheel l4, changes the length of, stroke imparted to the tool; the changing of the point ofconnection of the lever link 18 to the ram, changes the position of the stroke relative to the work; and the changing to a difierent speed (gears l9) causes a corresponding change in the rate and number of ram'strokes per minute.

Between strokes, the work table 2| may be shifted laterally to present new portions of the work being machined to the tool. This lateral feed movement derives power from the rotations of the bull gear I 4 through an intermittently acting pawl mechanism-indicated generally at 22. Inasmuch as the general features of operation and control of a shape: are well known and are not particularly closely involved with the present invention in the ram construction, further detailed description thereof is believed unnecessary.

With reference, however, to Figs. 2, 4, and 5, the ram per se is illustrated as a relatively long hollow shell member 25, having a long opening 26 in its underside and a long opening 21 in the top wall midway its ends. The side walls, 28 and 29 join each other forward and to the rear of the opening 21, forming a closed top at those regions.

The opening 26 in the' bottom, extends the major part of the length of the ram and is necessary to accommodate thelever linkage mechanism |'|-|8. The point of connection of the power to the ram is made adjustable longitudinally of and relative to the ram so that the zone of reciprocation of the tool may be varied. To that end, thelink I8 is, pivoted to an-adjustable block 30 that is supported and guided within the hollow shell on guides 56, 51. A draw bolt type of clamp means 3| that extends through the opening 27, of considerablelength in the top of the ram structure, is provided for clamping the block in its adjusted position. The top opening, together with the bottom opening, effectively divide the ram into two, somewhat yieldable, side portions.

The side portions take the thrust of the ram propelling mechanism and also the counter thrusts of the tooling operation, and to promote steady, vibrationless, action, are provided with long outwardly converging V shaped guide and bearing portions 32 and 33 along their lower edges. Each guide portion comprises a lower fiat surface 34 and an inwardly inclined over surface 35, the two planes being disposed approximately 55" apart, with the inclined surface 35 terminating along a line inwardly offset and spaced from theplane of the outer surface of the vertical side walls 28 and 29.

The lower bearing surfaces underlie the outer walls 28, 29 and rest upon complementary supporting surfaces 36 in the main frame, and the inclined upper surfaces are engaged by similarly inclined surfaces 31 of supporting straps 38 and 39 bolted securely by screws 40 to the main frame. Preferably the wedge strap 39 is secured as if integral with main frame I0, and'wedge strap 38 which is on the side receiving the greater portion of the laterally acting tooling forces, is mounted for lateral adjustment on the surface 4|. A series of adjusting screws ll) are provided to advance and to hold the wedge in accurately adjusted position against the ram surface 35.

If great care and skill are not used in the fitting and clamping of the guide straps, looseness or undue tightness results, as the forces transmitted through the inclined faces of the straps act downwardly and also laterally and squeeze or allow bulging of the ram shell to occur. However, by the present invention there is proposed a construction designed to eliminate, insofar as possible, all such tendency to yield or deflect that exist in ram structures. e

A preferred method of building great rigidity into the ram by means of a double wall is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 4 and of the drawings. In the form illustrated, the lower bearing portions 32, 33 extend inwardly (toward each other) slightly more than necessary to provide the widebearing surfaces 34, and terminate in upstanding walls 42 and 43. The walls 42 and 43 extend vertically in spaced relation to the outer walls 28 and 29, respectively,- and are integrally connected to the outer walls by relatively wide cross web portions 44 and 45 thus forming at each side of the central opening in the ram,-a double walled, box-like construction having longitudi nally extending cells 46 and 41. The increased width of the shell, obtained by having the side walls extended outwardly and the V guides under cut therein, enables one to construct webs of substantial width along its interior surfaces. The added strength and rigidity gained by the use 'ram is effected by means of the clamp bolt 3|,

of a wide web over that obtained with a narrow web, will it is' jbelleved, be manifest.

The upper half of the ram is similarly constructed with substantially vertical inner walls 42 and 43 which are integrally connected'with the vertical walls and lateral webs of the lower half just described, and also with the upper or ceiling walls 28 and 29 at each side of the longitudinal opening 21 therein. The construction and location of the inner walls 42* and 43, in spaced relation with each other and with the expanded outer walls 28, 29 of the ram, divides and provides additional longitudinally extending cells 48 and 49 in the two halves of the ram and add greatly to the strength of the whole structure.

Preferably each of the longitudinal cells 46-43 are again divided into shorter units by transversely extending walls 50, 5|, 52, 53, 54, illustrated in Fig. 2. The transverse wall 5| in this embodiment of-the invention is positioned near the end of the slot 21 in the top of the ram; the transverse walls 53 at the other end thereof, and on'eor more pairs of walls 52 positioned at intermediatepoints. Transverse walls and 54 are positioned at the ends of longitudinal opening 26 in'the underside of the ram and, in addition to closing the ends of the pairs of cells 46--49 at each side of the central opening, extend all the way across the ram structure and integrally unite the two sides thereof. As illustrated in the drawings, one ormore openings 55 may be providedin an inner wall of each cell to lighten the structure and to facilitate its manufacture.

In this manner. the two separated halves of a ram structure, and the ram as a-whole, is strongly internally bridged and reinforced. All forces tendingor causing ram deflection are in this cellular, double-walL'design effectively resisted by the combined bracing action of the inner walls and webs and there is produced a ram structure having great strength and rigidity notwithstanding its divided character.

The double wall features of theconstruction further promotes rigidity at the zone or region where the linkage mechanism is clamped to the ram. As illustrated more clearly in Figs. 2 and 5, the inner pair of side walls may be provided with short inwardly turned supports 56, 51, each of which has its inner and lower surfaces machined to receive and provide a bearing for the linkage pivot-block 30. An adjusting screws 58, operable from the head end of the ram through the crank shaft 58 and a pair of bevel gears 58*, has a threaded connection with the pivot block and may be used to adjust the position of the power connection with the ram so as to accommodate the tool end thereof to a particular zone of reciprocation.

Secure clamping of the pivot-block 30 to the plate washer 3H, and clamp nut 3| related to one another as illustrated in the drawings. In the present double Walled construction, the clamping forces exerted through the nut 3| act upon and are distributed over the top of the ram but are not alone carried by the outer curved walls thereof. Such forces are now taken effectively by the inner upright walls 42, 42 and 43, 43 and webbing which offer great resistance to compression. The outer walls of the ram are. therefore, substantially relieved of such compressiveforces and the .tendency to spring the ram out of shape is eliminated.

Likewise, the vertical component of the propelling forces, are taken by the inner pairs of upstanding walls; 42, 42 43, and 43, and transmitted directly to the contiguous bearing surfaces 34, again relieving the outer curved walls of a substantial part of that load and minimizing the tendency toward deflection.

When the machine is in use and the head end of the ram is caused intermittently to extend far beyond its supporting guides, the double walled feature of this invention cooperates to the fullest advantage in resisting the natural tendency of the head end to droop of its own weight or be forced upwardly as a result of the tooling pressures. And with like action, the walls defining the upper and lower tiers of cells, that are located on each side of the central opening in the ram, cooperate to maintain the ram in its rigid, non-yielding state in opposition to lateral or one-sided forces arising as a result of the tooling operation performed with a machine of this character.

A reinforced ram structure built in accordance with this invention has been found to be no heavier than the prior single wall design in the larger sizes, and only slightly heavier in the smaller sizes, for notwithstanding the much greater width of the reinforced ram and the greater area of wall structure therein, the walls, webs, and connecting flanges of the present design may be made 9-l1% thinner than the wall structures of single wall rams, without loss in strength. Actually greater strength and rigidity inheres in the present cellular, box-like structure than is possible to attain in single wall designs, even through the wall thickness of the latter may be 10 to 12 heavier.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and rang of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A ram structure for a shaping machine comprising an elongated inverted U-shaped member having outer side walls and contiguous spaced apart bottom walls forming bearing surfaces for the ram, the spacing between the said bottom walls providing an elongated opening in the ram for receiving the ram reciprocating lever mechanism, a pair of inner walls positioned generally vertically and spaced from said side walls and integrally connecting the inner portions of said spaced bottom walls with the ceiling wall of the ram, means provided by the said inner vertical.

Walls for securing thereto the lever mechanism of the shaping machine, said member also being provided with an elongated opening in its ceiling wall between said vertical walls adapted to receive therethrough portions of the lever securing means, said inner pair of walls together with said outer walls and bottom walls forming a doublewall'ed box-like structure at each side of the ram reciprocating mechanism and its connections with the ram eflective to resist deflection forces generatedin the ram incident to the operation of the machine.

2. A ram structure. for a shaping machine comprising an elongated inverted U-shaped member having an elongated opening in its upper wall and side walls whose lower portions project inwardly toward each other and form bearing surfaces, said inwardly projecting portions terminating short of the center of the ram providing an opening therebetween for receiving the ram reciproeating lever mechanism, said side walls also having a second pair of inwardly projecting rib members positioned in a medial plane in the ram and whose inwardlyprojecting edges are also spaced from each other and are provided with clamping surfaces to which the lever mechanism of the shaper may be secured by means extending through the elongated slot in the top of the ram, vertically positioned rib members integrally connecting the inner edges of said inwardly projecting lower bearing portions of the structure and the inner portions of the said medial ribs thereby providing a double walled construction at opposite sides of the lever opening in the ram, and an additional pair of ribs integrally connecting the inner portions of said medial ribs with the ceiling wall of the ram at opposite sides of the elongated opening therein thereby forming a double walled cellular structure above the said medial ribs and at each side of the vertical center line of the ram.

3. A ram structure for a shaping machine reinforced against deflection forces incident to its overhanging relation with its support during operation comprising an elongated inverted Ushaped shell having side walls whose lower portions project inwardly toward each other and form lower bearing surfaces, said inwardly projecting portions terminating short; of the center of the shell to form an opening therebetween for receiving the ram reciprocating lever mechanism, said side walls also having a second pair of inwardly projecting rib members positioned medially of the shell and whose inner edges are also spaced from each other and are provided with clamping surfaces to which the lever mechanism of the shapermay be secured, vertically positioned rib members extending between the inner edges of said inwardly projecting lower portions of the structure and the inner portions of the said medial ribs thereby providing a double walled box-like structure at opposite sides of the lever opening in the shell, and an additional pair of ribs integrally-connecting the inner portions of said medial ribs with the ceiling wall of the shell thereby forming a double walled cellular structure above the said medial ribs and at opposite sides of the vertical center line of the ram.

4. A ram structure for a shaping machine comprising an elongated inverted U-shaped member having an open bottom, closed end walls and depending side Walls terminating in inwardly turned flanges, outwardly converging V shaped bearing surfaces separated from and underlying the said side walls extending longitudinally along the lower and outer portions of each of said flanges, the projecting inner edge portions of the said flanges being spaced from each other to form an elongated aperture adapted to receive therethrough one end of the ram reciprocating lever mechanism of the shaper, said member also having a second pair of inwardly projecting flanges medially located within the ram structure to which the lever mechanism of the machine may be secured, and vertically extending supporting ribs on opposite sides of said elongated aperture 5. A shaping machine combining a base mem-' reinforced ram member reciprocably ber a mounted upon said base comprising an elongated inverted U-shaped member substantially closed at its ends and sides and provided with V shaped ways along the lower and outer longitudinal edges thereof, said ram also having an elongated opening in its underside adapted to receive therein one end of the ram propelling lever mechanism of the shaper, a pair of inwardly projecting rib members integral with the side walls of the ram and located in a medial plane to which the lever mechanism of the machine may be secured, the top or ceiling wall of the ram also having an elongated opening therein overlying said inwardly projecting ribs for receiving therethrough portions of the lever securing mechanism, and vertically extending rib members connecting said inwardly projecting rib portions with said upper wall of the ram on opposite sides of the elongated opening therein, said vertical ribs being spaced from the outer walls of the ram and forming a cellular structure serving rigidly to reinforce the ram against deflection in the regions affected by the elongated openings in the top and bottom sides thereof.

6. A shaping machine combining a base member an internally reinforced ram member reciprocably mounted upon said base comprising an elongated substantially hollow member having a curved top and side walls and provided with guideways along the lower and outer longitudinal edges thereof, said ram also having an elongated opening in its underside wall adapted to receive therethrough one end of the ram propelling lever mechanism of the shaper and an elongated opening provided in the curved top wall of the ram, a second pair of walls inte-' grally connecting said top wall with the under wall at regions adjacent the elongated openings therein, means for securing the ram reciprocating mechanism to the ram in a selected position including supporting means on said inner walls, a lever pivot-block, and clamp means operative through the opening in the top of the ram for securing said pivot-block to the supporting means on said inner walls, said vertical ribs being spaced from the outer walls of the ram and forming a bi-tubular construction serving rigidly to reinforce the ram structure against deflection in the regions about the elongated openings therein.

7. A ram structure for a shaping machine comprising an elongated hollow shell member having substantialll vertically arranged side walls integrally connected along their upper portions by a curved top wall, said side walls being provided with outwardly converging V shaped guide and bearing portions along their lower edges, said V guides being spaced from each other to provide a longitudinal opening in the underside of the shell, said guides also having their lower surfaces arranged in a single plane and their inclined upper surfaces inwardly ofiset from the said vertical walls so that said side walls overlie and overextend a portion of the inclined surfaces of the V guides, and inwardly extending, horizontally disposed web members integral with the sides of the shell for reinforcing the sides of the shell against deflection, said web members also extending longitudinally of the shell and terminating short of the center of the shell so as to rovide a longitudinal opening therein to receive ram reciprocating mechanism; and means afforded by the horizontal webs for mounting the final element of the ram reciprocating mechanism.

8. A ram structure for a shaping machine comprising an elongated hollow shell member having substantially vertically arranged side walls integral with a longitudinally slotted top wall, each of said side walls being provided with outwardly converging V shaped guide and bearing portions along its lower edge, said uide portions being spaced from each other to provide a longitudinally extending opening in the underside of the shell, said guides also having their lower surfaces arranged in a horizontal plane and their inclined upper surfaces terminating along a line inwardly offset and spaced from the plane of the outer surface of said. side walls so that the said side walls overlie and overextend a portion of the inclined surfaces of the V guides, a plurality of vertically arranged relatively wide web members integrally uniting portions of said top wall with said V guide portions at each side of the longitudinal opening in the shell for reinforcing same against deflection, additional relatively wide web members horizontally arranged and positioned at each side of the longitudinal opening in the shell and integrally united with said vertical web members and with said side walls for providing additional reinforcement, and means provided by the horizontal web members for securing the final element of the ram reciprocating mechanism to the shell.

9. A tool support adapted to resist vertically and laterally acting forces causing deflection comprising an elongated inverted U-shaped member having a top wall and a first pair of walls extending along its sides, bearing surfaces on and extending longitudinally of said side walls, said member also having a second pair of side walls inwardly spaced from said first pair and each of which is integrally united with the said top wall and the lower portion of one of said first pair of walls, said second pair of walls being spaced apart from each other to provide a central opening in the member and whereby the member is substantially divided into two double walled sections, transversely extending web members integrally connecting the inner and outer walls of each of the sections at regions intermediate the region of union of the inner walls with the top wall and with the lower portions of the outer walls thereby forming a double-walled cellular section internally braced against deflection at each side of the central opening in the member, and means provided by the double walled cellular member for supporting a tool in cooperative relation with a workpiece.

WILLIAM F. ZIMMERMANN. 

